Pusher arm rear-end mounting for earth movers



March 12, 1946. E. w. AUSTIN 2,396,407 l PUSHER ARM REAR END MOUNTINGFOR EARTH MOVERS I Original Filed Feb. 16, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTOR [//5 Worf/7 h/ ALAS/lh TTOIFIVEY March 12, 1946. E. w. AUSTINPUSHER ARM REAR END MOUNTING FOR EARTH MOVERS original Filed Feb. 1e,`194s 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR .m 1v, u A w b In 0 M n Patented Mar. 12,1946 PUsHER ARM REAR-END MOUNTING Foa EARTH M ovERs Ellsworth W. Austin,Cedar Rapids, Iowa, assignor to La'Plant-Choate Manufacturing Company,Incorporated, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, a corporation of Delaware Originalapplication February 16, 1943, Serial No. 431,033. Divided and thisapplication May 23, 1944, Serial No. 537,000

3 Claims. (Cl. 37-144) My invention relates to earth movers of thebulldozer or trailbuilder type wherein a push frame is pivoted at itsrear ends to a tractor on a substantial horizantal axis for swingingmovement in front of the machine.

In general, the object of this invention is the provision in equipmentof this type of a push frame rear end mounting for pivoting the rearends of the arms of the push frame to the tractor side frames betweensaid side frames and the tractor main frame.

The invention possesses other advantageous features, some of which withthe foregoing will be set forth at length in the following descriptionwhere that form of the invention which has been selected forillustration in the drawings accompanying and forming a part of thepresent specification is outlined in full. In said drawings, one form ofthe invention is shown, but it is to be understood that it is notlimited to such form, since the invention as set forth in the claims maybe embodied in a plurality of forms.

Fig. l is a side elevation of an earth mover constructed in accordancewith my invention and shown as a trailbuilderl mounted on a standardtractor.

Fig. 2 is a plan of the mechanism disclosed in Fig. 1, a portion of thetractor hood being broken away to disclose the interior arrangement.

Fig. 3 is a detail showing th'e side elevation of a portion of a pushbeam.

Although the invention herein claimed resides more particularly in thepush frame rear end mountings, a somewhat detailed description of anearth mover embodying a mounting of this type seems desirable in orderproperly to orient the invention.

In its preferred form, my push frame rear end mounting is embodied as atrailbuilder or bulldozer for use with a standard tractor provided witha main frame on which there is an engine compartment and provided at itsrear with a cable winch. Included in the tractor are track frames spacedfrom the main frame and themselves including track mechanism and trackbeams. Located over portions of the track frames are running boards.Trunnions are mounted in the spaces between the track frames Vand mainframe and are supported by arched arrangement with the remainingportion. Pivoted on th'e front end of the push frame is a push plate orblade, which can be held in any desired selected position by foldingpush beams or struts. An operating cable is strung from the winch arounda cable wheel which is movable into a suitable supporting position orinto another position out of the way and the cable is extended through atube secured to the running board and then passes around suitablyaligned sheaves mounted on a bracket disposed at one side of the enginecompartment on the main frame. The operating cable then extends throughthe engine compartment and around comparable sheaves on a bracketsecured on the other side of the main frame and aligned with sheaves onthe push frame so that when the cable is operated the trailbuilder israised and lowered.

Referring now to the drawings, the objects of my invention have beenembodied in a standard tractor generally designated 6 and including thecustomary operatorsstation -'l, and an engine compartment 8, bothlocated on a central main frame 9 ofthe machine. On either side of themachine are running boards II, which are fastened on the main frame andextend over the respective track frames I2 and I3 located on oppositesides of the main frame and disposed to leave an intermediate space I4therebetween. Included in each of the track frames is a track mechanismgenerally designated I6 as well as an outer track beam Il extending fromthe reartrack frames I2 and I3 withthe main frame 9.

In accordance with my invention I provide a suitable mounting for anearth moving implement and this comprises a push frame 2i which ispreferably symmetrical on both sides of th'e longitudinal center linealthough there can be some Variation in the construction on oppositesides. The push frame is preferably mounted on the track frames I2 andI3 and for that reason I dispose in each of the spaces I4 a trunnionbearing 22. Since the opposite sides of the machine are preferablyalike, a, description of one applies to both. The trunnion bearing 22 ismounted preferably on a trunnion or shaft 23 which extends from abracket 24 arched over the track mechanism I6 and being provided withfastening means 26 securing the arched bracket to the track beam i'l onthe outer side thereof cron the side of the track beam away from theintermediate space I4. Reinforcing ribs 21 increase the strength of thearch bracket. As a further means of securing the trunnion 23 inposition, a strap 28 is secured thereto and extends to fastening means20 securing the forward end of the strap to the inside of the track beamI1. In this fashion a rigidly fixed trunnion 23 is afforded within thespace I4.

The push frame 2| is adapted to be secured to the trunnion bearings 22and can either be the conventional, box construction U-type or caninclude adjusting mechanism to compensate for variations in environmentand operating conditions. For example, the grousers on the tracks I2 andI3 sometimes are slat street plates and at other times are elevated iceengaging cleats so that the height of trunnion bearings 22 from theground surface or ice surface varies from time to time. Also it issometimes desired to mount the push frame 2| with a permanent horizontalincline with the respect to the main frame 3 of the tractor and Iconsequently provide for all of these conditions. The compensating meanscan be included in only one of the legs of the push frame 2| or can beincluded in both legs. A description of one of the mechanisms applies toboth, if two are utilized.

The push frame 2| is detachably connected to the trunnion bearing 22 bythe provision of a bifurcated end 3| on a. push frame member generallydesignated 32 and included 'with a forward push frame member 33 in thepush frame. The bifurcated end 3| fits snugly around the trunnionbearing 22 which preferably is square and is removably positionedthereon by an L-shaped keeper 34 passing through suitable apertures inthe bifurcated end 3| and retained in position by a cotter pin 36. Theentire push frame can be removed by withdrawing the cotter pin 36 andthe keeper 34. Adjacent the forward end, the push frame-member 32 isprovided with part of a pivot connection 31 interengaging with a matingportion of a pivot connection 38 at the rearward part of the push framemember 33. A pivot pin 38 secures these members together for pivotalmovement in a vertical plane.

The relative pivotal movement between the pivoted parts of the pushframe is regulated or controlled by an adjusting screw 4I (provided witha lock nut 42) which engages an ear 43 upstanding from the push framemember 33 and likewise engages another ear 44 similarly upstanding fromthe push frame member 32. With this mechanism one part of the push framecan be raised or lowered with respect to the other and the height of thepush frame can be regulated with respect to the ground. If both sides ofthe push frame incorporate such adjusting mechanisms, the range ofadjustment is increased.

At the forward end, the push frame 2| is designed to mount a push blade5| which is of any convenient construction and is usually of box formmade up of structural plates and shape. The center portion of the bladestructure 5I is provided with a pivot bracket 52," through which anormally vertical pivot pin 53 is passed. This pin likewise is engagedby a bracket 54 mounted on the push frame 2 I.

Adjacent each end, the blade structure 5I is provided with a pluralityof pierced lugs 61 which are designed to receive a removable fasteningpin E8. Also adapted to engage the fastening pin and occupy selectedones of the positions between the lugs 61 are pierced lugs 68 at theforward extremities of a push beamll. The front push beam member ispreferably a channel or hollow box which, adjacent one end is connectedby a permanently positioned pivot pin 12 with a similar channel-likerear push member 13. The structures of the push beam members 1| and 13are such that the rear one will be received within a portion of thefront during folding or articulated movement about the axis 14 oi thepermanent pin 12. A removable pin 15 is designed to pass through alignedapertures 164 in the trailing end of the push member 1| andlikewise inthe forward Dortion of the rear push member 13. When the pin 15 is insuch position the members 1I and 13 are in alignment and are rigid,constituting then in a sense a strut although they are equally capableof resisting tension. The rearward end of the push member 13 is providedwith apertured bosses 11 designed toreceive a removable pin 18 havingseveral functions. In the straight across, or bulldozing position of theblade 5I, as shown in full lines in Fig. 2, the two pins 18 on oppositesides of the machine are both engaged in the rearmost one 19, of severalapertures which are provided in parallel flanges 8| and 82 outstandingfrom the side walls of the push frame 2|. With the parts arranged asshown in full lines in Figs. 1 and 2, the machine constitutes a rigidbulldozer.

In order to change the blade into an angling or trailbuilder position,both the pins 15 and 18 are withdrawn from their respective locations sothat the push beams 1I and 13 are entirely free except for theirrelative pivotal connection and except for their pivoted connection bythe pins 68. This being so, the first operation is to replace the pins18 not in the rearmost apertures 19 in the parallel flanges 8| and 82,but rather in the foremost apertures 33 in the flanges 8| and 82. Thesame maneuver is performed -on the oppO- site side of the machine. Thenthe push members 1I and 13 are folded with respect to each other aboutthe axis of the permanent pin 12 until the aperture 16 in the member 13substantially coincides with an intermediate aperture 84 in the anges 8|and 82. To accommodate this position of the parts the push frame 2| isprovided with a pair of pockets 86 and 81 to receive the ends of theforward push member 1I. The pin 18 is then introduced into the alignedapertures 84 and 16 so that a rigid connection is so provided on oneside of the machine. On the other side the members 1I and 13 are kept intheir same alignment by the pin 15. The push beam is moved as a unituntil the apertured bosses 11 and 19 align with the forward aperture 83and the pin 18 is placed therein thereby affording a rigid mounting.With this arrangement the push beams on opposite sides of the machineare both rigidly pinned in position to hold the blade 5| in its angledlocation.

Although the push frame 2| can be lowered and raised in any conventionalmanner, and the speciilc mechanism for accomplishing this movement isimmaterial in so far as the invention being claimed is concerned, forpurposes of illustration a cable mechanism has been shown. Thismechanism is substantially the same on the opposite sides of thetractor. At each side of the forward portion of the engine compartment8, is preferably provided one of a pair of brackets IOI and |02 which,at its lower end is secured by fastenings |03 to the main frame 9. Thebrackets are fabricated of structural plates and serve as guides forthrust rollers I 04 mounted in suitable forks I 06 upstanding from theside portions-of the push frame 2|. On the brackets are stops |05 tolimit the maximum upper movement of the push frame. The brackets areheld in position on the frame by On either side of themain frame, thepush frame 2 |-is provided with a pair of ears H6 which are connected bypins ||1 to sheave blocks I I8 and H9. Each block can contain a singlesheave wheel |2| or a plurality thereof depending upon the desiredreeving. lIn alignment with each of the sheave blocks IIB and H9 arestationary sheave blocks |22 and |23 located on the brackets i0! and |02respectively. These sheave blocks are disposed so that the interveningcables are substantially tangent to the pivot center of the push frameso that, approximately, a constant moment arm is available for theeiective cable force during the entire travel of the push frame, thusminimizing the bearing loads and stresses in general. Disposedsubstantially tangent and at right angles to the sheave blocks |22 and|23 are transfer sheaves |26 andl |26, respectively, fastened on thebrackets I0! and |02 andV extending partially into the enginecompartment 8. On the bracket I 0| and substantially tangent with thesheave block |22 and approximately tangent to the running board II is aguide sheave |21.

Located on the main frame of the tractor at the rear of the operatorsstation 1 and designed to be driven by the tractor engine is a powercontrol unit or winch |3| of a standard type. This is shown as a twodrum winch having a pair of fairlead sheaves |32 and |33 thereon sincesuch is the customary installation. But one of the drums and fairleadsheaves is utilized, however, in connection with the present mechanism.An operating cable |34 extends from the winch drum I 3B and over thefairlead |32 to a cable I wheel |31. I'his cable wheel is connected tothe same tractor is utilized for pulling a trailing vehicle withoutoperation of the bulldozer. In that event the cable I 38 is removed fromany other connection, the pin |39 is withdrawn and the vas cable wheel|31 is swung about the axis of the vision is not obstructed by anyelevated cable mechanism. Emerging from the tube |42 the operating cable|34 is trained around the guide sheave |21 and then passes around thesheave block |22. One orseveral passes are made between such sheaveblock and the sheave block I|8 and then the cable passes from the sheaveblock H8 around the transfer sheave |24 and through the enginecompartment 8. The cable passes in very close proximity to the channelI|3 and a plurality of loops |48 are provided on the channel to confinethe cable somewhat and prevent it, 'especially when slack, frominterfering with any of the surrounding engine mechanism. Having passedthrough the loops |46 the cable |34 then passes around the secondtransfer sheave |28 and engages the sheave block |23 on the bracket |32.Then the cable is reeved around the opposite sheave block I9 on the pushframe and having made the requisite number of passes between such sheaveblock and the sheave block |23, is suitably dead ended.

From the above disclosure, it will be appreciated that I have providedin conjunction with a tractor of the self-laying track type, a novelpush frame rear end mounting for effectively pivoting the rear end ofthe push arms to the tractor side frames between the tractor main frameand its side frames.

This application isa division of my co-pending application, Serial No.431,033, filed February 16, 1942, for Earth mover.

I claim:

1. An earth mover for use with a tractor having a main frame and a trackframe mounted thereon to leave an intermediate space, said trackframeincluding track mechanism and an outer beam, comprising:l a pushframe trunnion d isposed in said space; a bracket secured to saidtrunnion, arched over said mechanism and said beam and alsosecured tosaid beam on the side away from said trunnion; and a strap secured tosaid trunnion and secured to said beam on the side adjacentsaiditrunnion.

3. An earth mover comprising: avtractor main l frame; a tractor sideframe on either side of said main frame, each of'saidsider frames beingspaced from said main frame and including an outer beam; a flangedbracket secured to the outer face of each o1' said beams with an infwardly extending vportion overhanging its associated side frame a strapsecured to each of' said e brackets and its associated beam; a pushframe running board I I of the tractor. In this way the operators safetyis in no wise endangered by the proximity of the operating cable |34 andhk' JIL;

` trunnion secured to the inner end oi' each oi' said brackets; andpusharms journalled on each of said trunnions for movement in a. verticalplane between said main frame and its associated side frame.

' ELLSWORTH W. AUSTIN.

